Device for treating living tissue with an electric current

Abstract

A device is disclosed for use in a laparoscopic tubal cauterization for blocking the fallopian tubes of a patient. The device comprises a substantially tubular body member having a piston slidably mounted therein. A spring urges the piston to a first position relative to the body member. A button extends from one end of the body member for moving the piston to a second position against the urging of the spring. First and second electrodes are incorporated for either monopolar or bipolar treatment of the living tissue. The first and second electrodes are disposed to grasp the living tissue when the piston is in the first position and to release the living tissue when the piston is in the second position. The invention includes a circuit breaker for terminating continuity when the piston is disposed in the second position. An activating switch is disabled when the piston is in the second position. The invention provides a dual series switch system of circuit interruption when the electrodes release the living tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for treating living tissue with an electrical current from a power source, comprising in combination: a substantially cylindrical body member having a first end and a second end;   a sleeve, having one end disposed within said second end of said body member and a terminal end extending therefrom;   means for fixably mounting said one end of said sleeve within said second end of said body member;   a piston, slidaby mounted relative to said body member and slidably received within said sleeve;   urging means for urging said piston to a first position relative to said body member and said sleeve;   means for moving said piston to a second position relative to said body member and said sleeve against said urging means;   a first and a second electrode element;   means for mounting at least one of said first and second electrode elements, for movement in accordance with the movement of said piston;   means to control the divergence and convergence of said first and second electrode elements upon a reciprocating longitudinal movement of said piston;   said first and second electrode elements disposed to grasp the living tissue when said piston is in said first position and disposed to release the living tissue when the piston is in said second position; and   means for connecting said first and second electrode elements to the electrical power source to provide an electrical current flow relative to the living tissue; said connecting means including switch means mounted on said body member and means mounted on said piston cooperating with said switch means, to allow said electrical current flow only when said piston is in said first position.   
     
     
       2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein, said means for fixably mounting said sleeve within said second end of said body member includes an outwardly projecting annular flange at one end of said sleeve coacting with a guide and an aperture within said second end of said body member. 
     
     
       3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein, said piston includes a flange extending therefrom. 
     
     
       4. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein, said urging means for urging said piston to a first position includes a spring mounted on said piston coacting with said flange on said piston and a guide within said body member. 
     
     
       5. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein, said means for moving said piston to said second position relative to said body member and said sleeve includes a button extending from said first end of said body member. 
     
     
       6. A device as set forth in claim 5, wherein, said means for mounting at least one of said first and second electrode elements for movement in accordance with the movement of said piston includes said first and second electrode elements being integrally molded within said piston to extend along an internal region of said piston. 
     
     
       7. A device as set forth in claim 6, wherein, said first and second electrode elements extend from said second end of said body member into said sleeve, whereat, said first and second electrode elements are slidably received by said sleeve and further extend from said terminal end of said sleeve. 
     
     
       8. A device as set forth in claim 7, wherein, said means to control the divergence and convergence of said first and second electrode elements upon a reciprocating longitudinal movement of said piston includes, said terminal end of said sleeve, whereat, said first and second electrode elements withdraw to converge and grasp the living tissue upon said urging means urging said piston into said first position, and, extend to diverge and release the living tissue upon moving said piston into said second position against said urging means by the use of said button. 
     
     
       9. A device as set forth in claim 6, wherein, said means for connecting said first and second electrode elements to the electrical power source to provide an electrical current flow relative to the living tissue includes means mounted in said body member cooperating with means provided on said first and second electrode elements, the latter said means includes said first and second electrode elements terminating as contact arms extending perpendicularly to the axis of said piston and contact pads mounted within said body member, the cooperating said means being a circuit breaker, whereat, when said piston is in said first position contact is made between said contact arms and said contact pads, whereas, when said piston is in said second position said contact arms are displaced from said contact pads whereat there is no electrical continuity. 
     
     
       10. A device as set forth in claim 5, wherein, said means for mounting at least one of said first and second electrode elements for movement in accordance with the movement of said piston includes said first electrode element to be integrally molded within said piston to extend along an internal region of said piston. 
     
     
       11. A device as set forth in claim 10, wherein, said first electrode element extends from said second end of said body member into said sleeve, whereat, said first electrode element is slidably received by said sleeve and further extends from said terminal end of said sleeve, said device further including said second electrode element fixed to said body member and extending from said second end of said body member within said sleeve and further extending from said terminal end of said sleeve whereat said second electrode element is in a fixed position relative to said sleeve. 
     
     
       12. A device as set forth in claim 11, wherein, said means to control the divergence and convergence of said first and second electrode elements upon a reciprocating longitudinal movement of said piston, includes said terminal end of said sleeve whereat said first electrode element withdraws to converge toward said second electrode element to grasp the living tissue upon said urging means urging said piston into said first position, and, extends to diverge from said second electrode element and release the living tissue upon moving said piston into said second position against said urging means by the use of said button. 
     
     
       13. A device as set forth in claim 11, includes, said first electrode element which extends from said terminal end of said sleeve to be substantially hook-shaped, and, disposed to move longitudinally between said first and said second position enabling the tissue to be hooked by said first electrode element when said first electrode element is in said second position prior to engagement with the second electrode element; said second electrode element being in the shape of a projection. 
     
     
       14. A device as set forth in claim 10, wherein, said means for connecting said first and second electrode elements to the electrical power source to provide an electrical current flow relative to the living tissue includes, means mounted in said body member cooperating with means provided on said first electrode element, the latter said means includes said first electrode element terminating as a contact arm extending perpendicularly to the axis of said piston and a contact pad mounted within said body member, the cooperating said means being a circuit breaker, whereat, when said piston is in said first position contact is made between said contact arm and said contact pad, whereas, when said piston is in said second position said contact arm is displaced from said contact pad, whereat, there is no electrical continuity. 
     
     
       15. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein, each of said first and second electrode elements includes an inwardly projecting tab. 
     
     
       16. A device as defined in claim 1, including means for connecting said electrode elements to a same polarity of said electrical power source to provide monopolar treatment of said living tissue. 
     
     
       17. A device as defined in claim 1, including means for connecting said electrode elements to different polarities of said electrical power source to provide bipolar treatment of said living tissue. 
     
     
       18. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein, said switch means is manually operable for completing, when operated, a circuit between said power source and said electrode elements so that current flows only when said piston is in said first position and said switch means is operated. 
     
     
       19. A device as set forth in claim 18, wherein, said switch means includes first and second contact elements biased apart, an activator mounted in said body member positioned for engaging one of said contact elements to move that element toward the other contact element and, wherein, said cooperating means includes an elevated region on said piston positioned for engaging said other contact element when said piston is in said first position to move said other contact element toward said one element, so that, when said region engages said other contact element and said activator engages said one contact element, said contact elements are in electrical connection.